A charming Bavarian town in North Georgia lights up for the holidays
If a trip to Germany isn’t possible this season, head to Helen, a tiny town in northwest Georgia that goes big for the holidays. It’s a 3.5-hour drive from Charlotte and attracts millions of tourists who flock to find a bit of Bavaria in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Complete with buildings designed with European facades, Helen is best known for Oktoberfest events where revelers dress in lederhosen and dirndls, dance the polka, drink beer, and feast on German food. In December, this Alpine escape hosts a tree lighting, a Christmas parade, visits with Santa, and a traditional German Christkindlmarket. Spend a weekend in this charming mountain town and check off all the festivities your family would experience in the Old Country.
STAY
Most family-owned accommodations in Helen look like Swiss chalets. Helendorf Inn sits along the Chattahoochee River and is walking distance to more than 200 souvenir shops, restaurants, and Riverside Park where the town’s tree lighting takes place. Designated rooms are pet-friendly, and all rooms have a small fridge and microwave. Grab-and-go breakfast items are available in the lobby for all guests. For those craving a more secluded experience, rent a cabin in the woods surrounding Helen or in Unicoi State Park. For luxury amenities and lodging for families with teenagers, try Vallhalla Resort offering a rooftop bar, wine cellar, and spa that is located only a few minutes away from downtown Helen.
Krisha Chachra served eight years on the Blacksburg Town Council and has written for NRV Magazine for a decade. She is a member of The Mama Movement and a proud mom to a curious toddler. Krisha is a community advocate and connector and runs an event production organization that hosts Up on the Roof. Krisha has reported and hosted shows for public radio and television and has freelanced for USA Weekend Magazine, the Honolulu Advertiser and the Alexandria Gazette among others. Her book about returning to Blacksburg, Homecoming Journals, may be found online or in local bookstores.
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